Aquarius Reef Base Program

The purpose of this fund is to support the general operations of FIU’s Aquarius Reef Base, the world’s underwater laboratory and habitat. Additionally, this fund will support teaching, research, community, and international outreach and enrichment.

Aquarius Reef Base has an unprecedented ability to excite and inspire students of all ages – and the general public – about science, engineering, oceans, and exploration while providing an amazing research and training platform! Nowhere else in the world can students learn about science and the oceans from people actually living underwater. In the last year, Aquarius reached millions of people around the world and thousands of students talked live to aquanauts during our educational programing. Our plan is to grow these numbers for years to come.Dean Michael Heithaus, College of Arts & Sciences

Aquarius is an ideal place to study the global change of coral reef communities. It is perfect for growing a research program studying how factors such as overfishing and climate change are impacting coral reef ecosystems. As the world’s only undersea research lab, it is poised to give us unique insight as to how coral reefs will change into the future.Associate Professor Deron Burkepile, Marine Science Program, Department of Biology